Athletic swing training weight and method

Abstract

A swing training weight and method for building the strength and control of a user, while teaching proper swing mechanics. The swing training weight is attached to athletic equipment during training or while warming up for competition, and provides an improved means of release from the athletic equipment. The swing training weight incorporates a sliding member that simulates the impact of striking an object and provides audible, visual and tactile feedback to the user pertaining to the proper execution of the swing. Training methods using the swing training weight are provided that improve athletic performance, and allow for focused training of the proper execution of specific elements of an athletic swing. Further, the swing training weight incorporates a movable stop that allows the weight to be configured to provide for training methods that further focus on the proper execution of specific swing elements.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A swing training weight, for use on a bat comprising a grip end, a tapered portion, and a barrel portion, the swing training weight comprising:
 a. a hollow elongated member having a first and a second end; 
 b. a first stop located at said first end of said hollow elongated member; 
 c. a second stop located at said second end of said hollow elongated member; 
 d. said hollow elongated member having a uniform external cross section between said first stop and said second stop; 
 e. a sliding member slidably mounted on said hollow elongated member between said first stop and said second stop; 
 f. said hollow elongated member having a substantially uniform internal cross section at said first end that surrounds and extends over said barrel portion of said bat; 
 g. said hollow elongated member having a tapered internal cross section integrally connected to said substantially uniform internal cross section that narrows toward said second end, that surrounds and wedges against said tapered portion of said bat; 
 h. whereby said swing training weight is removably secured to said bat, and said sliding member slides along said hollow elongated member between said first stop and said second stop. 
 
     
     
       2. The swing training weight of  claim 1  wherein the striking of said sliding member against said first stop provides audible, tactile and visual feedback. 
     
     
       3. The swing training weight of  claim 2  wherein said first stop or said second stop are removable, whereby said sliding member is removable. 
     
     
       4. The swing training weight of  claim 2  further comprising a removable sliding member. 
     
     
       5. The swing training weight of  claim 1  wherein said tapered internal cross section provides a recess that slidably contains a release member between said hollow elongated member and said tapered portion of said bat, whereby the force required to remove said swing training weight from said bat is reduced. 
     
     
       6. The swing training weight of  claim 5  wherein said release member is made of a compliant material such as rubber or silicone. 
     
     
       7. The swing training weight of  claim 1  wherein said sliding member, said first stop, and said second stop are of a different color than said uniform external cross section of said hollow elongated member. 
     
     
       8. The swing training weight of  claim 1  wherein said second stop retains said sliding member in a starting position, whereby said sliding member is maintained in said starting position when said swing training weight is held with said first end positioned below said second end. 
     
     
       9. The swing training weight of  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of magnets or magnetic material incorporated in said second stop or said sliding member. 
     
     
       10. The swing training weight of  claim 1  further comprising a movable stop mounted on said hollow elongated member providing a plurality of starting positions of said sliding member. 
     
     
       11. The swing training weight of  claim 10  wherein said movable stop is located on said hollow elongated member between said second stop and said sliding member. 
     
     
       12. The swing training weight of  claim 10  wherein said movable stop retains said sliding member in a starting position, whereby said sliding member is maintained in said starting position when said swing training weight is held with said first end positioned below said second end. 
     
     
       13. The swing training weight of  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of magnets or magnetic material incorporated in said second stop or said sliding member. 
     
     
       14. The swing training weight of  claim 1  wherein said first stop is a flange that extends the external cross section of said first end of said hollow elongated member sufficient to retain said sliding member, and said second stop is a flange that extends the external cross section of said second end of said hollow elongated member sufficient to retain said sliding member. 
     
     
       15. The swing training weight of  claim 14  wherein said hollow elongated member has a substantially cylindrical cross section. 
     
     
       16. A method to build the strength and bat control of a user while teaching proper elements of an athletic swing, comprising:
 a. said user using a bat comprising: a grip end, a tapered potion, and a barrel portion; 
 b. the user securing a training weight to said bat; 
 c. said training weight comprising: a hollow elongated member having a first and a second end, a first stop located at said first end of said hollow elongated member, a second stop located at said second end of said hollow elongated member, said hollow elongated member having a uniform external cross section between said first stop and said second stop, a sliding member slidably mounted on said hollow elongated member between said first stop and said second stop, said hollow elongated member having a substantially uniform internal cross section at said first end that surrounds and extends over said barrel portion of said bat, said hollow elongated member having a tapered internal cross section integrally connected to said substantially uniform internal cross section that narrows toward said second end, that surrounds and wedges against said tapered portion of said bat; 
 d. the user grasping said bat in the desired position for performing a desired training method; 
 e. the user performing said desired training method; 
 f. upon completing said desired training method the user uses the feedback provided by said swing training weight to assess the performance of said desired training method; 
 g. the user resetting said swing training weight to the desired starting position of said desired training method; 
 h. the user repeating said desired training method for a desired number of repetitions or until a desired result is achieved. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein said desired training method is intended to teach the proper engagement of said user's wrists when performing an athletic swing, whereby the force generated by said athletic swing is maximized, comprising:
 a. the user grasping said bat at said grip while performing the athletic swing, causing said sliding member to travel along said hollow elongated member striking said first stop providing audible, tactile and visual feedback to said user; 
 b. the user observing the point during said athletic swing that said audible, tactile and visual feedback occurs, with optimal performance being achieved when said audible, tactile and visual feedback occurs as the users wrists are extended at the ideal moment of said athletic swing; 
 c. the user assessing the performance of said athletic swing based on the timing of said audible, tactile and visual feedback; 
 d. the user resetting said sliding member to the starting position by elevating said barrel portion of said bat such that said first end of the swing training weight is positioned above said second end and said sliding member rests against said second stop; 
 e. said user repeating said athletic swing for a desired number of repetitions or until the desired result is achieved. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16  wherein said desired training method is intended to teach the proper engagement of said user's lower body when executing an athletic hip turn, comprising:
 a. the swing training weight of  claim 16  further comprising a movable stop mounted on said hollow elongated member providing a plurality of starting positions of said sliding member; 
 b. the user configuring said swing training weight with said movable stop near said first end of said hollow elongated member; 
 c. the user holding said bat against their hips with both hands at approximately the grip; 
 d. the user performing an athletic hip turn, thus causing said sliding member to travel along said hollow elongated member striking said first stop providing audible, tactile and visual feedback to said user. 
 e. the user assessing the performance of said athletic hip turn based on the said audible, tactile and visual feedback; 
 f. the user resetting said sliding member to the starting position by elevating said barrel portion of said bat such that said first end of the swing training weight is positioned above said second end of the swing training weight and said sliding member rests against said removable stop; 
 g. the user repeating said athletic hip turn for a desired number of repetitions or until a desired result is achieved.